a a-. 3. i<f 
 

 
 Sc <4k 
 
 
■ 
 
 ■\ • 
 
utr 
 
1 
 
 l l 
 
• 
 
 
 dtlAx/ >" ^ 
 
 
 &*r* 5 
 
 A fir*/* 
 
 Are/* 
 
 '+* 
 
 Y 
 
 J 
 
yA.0 , a; rfft^ 
 
 c 
 
 From the 
 
 OR, THE 1 
 
 GHOST 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Famous Mr. James Guthrie 
 appearing- 
 
 Being the Iaft SERMON he 
 preached in the Pulpit of b>tirling y be- 
 fore his Martyrdom at Edinburgh^ 
 June 1 66 1. 
 
 To which is added, 
 His Laft SPEECH upon the Scaffold. His 
 Ten CONSIDERATIONS anent 
 the Decay of Religion : With an Authentick 
 PAPER fign'd and writ with his own Handj> 
 with Relation to the Call of Mr. Robert 
 /Rule to Stirling. Which gives fome Light 
 into the infamous Adion of his being ftoned, for 
 pufliing Mr. R u l e's Settlement in Stirling 7 
 in Oppofition to the Publick Refolution Party, 
 about five Years before his Execution. 
 
 G L A S G iV y 
 
 Printed by William Duncan, for William 
 Gray Merchant in Lane &k. Mdccxxxviii, 
 
Ill 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 READER- 
 
 PE r h a P s it may be thought fomewhat 
 ftrange, how a Sermon of that great and 
 good Man Mr. James Guthrie once Mini- 
 ster of Stirling, fhould come abroad about 
 feventy feven Years after his Death, he having 
 been crown'd with Martyrdom in the Year 1661. 
 The Occafion of its feeing the Light is as fol- 
 lows. January this fame Year, I had Occafion 
 to be in Company with my worthy and dear Fa- 
 ther and Colleague Mr. Alexander Hamilton in the 
 Manfe of Stirling, a kw Days before his departure 
 to Glory. And having heard that the Sermon 
 was in his Hand, I took Occafion to enquire at 
 ' him about it. He told me, That it was not at 1 
 prefent in his Cuftody, having lent it out to a 
 Chriftian Friend about eighteen Miles diftance, but 
 allowed me to fend for it, adding, That he "would 
 be well pleafed it were publifhed. I ask'd him fur- 
 ther, of the Way he came by it ? To which he 
 replied, That for what he knew, it had lien in the 
 Clofet of the Room where he and I were fitting, 
 fince Mr. Guthrie's Incumbency, until one Day 
 he fell upon it, as he was turning over fome old 
 Papers, which had lien there he knew not how 
 long-. 
 
 A 2 Some 
 
iv *fo the Reader. 
 
 Some Days after Mr. Hamilton's Death* I 
 wrote for it, acccording to his Direction, and had it 
 fent to me accordingly. And that fame authentick 
 Copy writ, as I was told, by Mr. Guthrie's own 
 Hand, goes to the Prefs. The only Reafon of its 
 lying fo long in Obfcurity befide me, is the Throng 
 of other Work which neceflarily devolved upon me 
 in this Place, after the lofs of my Brother Colleague, 
 ftill intending when Time allowed, to fay fomething 
 by way of Preface : But the fame Strait continuing 
 upon me, Pm obliged after all, through the impor- 
 tunate Cries of many who have heard of it, to 
 let it go with faying little or nothing. Only I 
 regard it as a Piece of Honour put upon me in 
 holy Providence, not only to be the unworthy 
 Succeffor of that great Man, but the Publifher of 
 the laft Sermon that ever he preached in the Pul- 
 pit of Stirling: Where it is my Defire, the fame 
 Tcftimony of Jefus, for which he fuffered unto 
 Death, may be maintained unto the lateft Pofte- 
 rity. • 
 
 What may be in the Womb of this Pro- 
 vidence of the Refurredlion of Mr. Guthrie's iaft 
 Sermon in Stirling, after it has been fo long buri- 
 ed with himfelf in the Duft and Rubbifh, God 
 only knows, and Time muft difcover : Only con- 
 fiderlng the Way of its Refurredlion and Con- 
 veyance, it looks like a Cry from the Deed to the 
 whole Land; but in a particular Manner, to the 
 Congregation of Stirling, upon whofe Watch-tower 
 it was delivered. 
 
 I have thought the Manner of the Conveyance 
 of this Sermon to publick View at this Time of 
 Day, olc of the curious Links of the great Chain 
 of Divine Providence. The Reverend Mr. Alex- 
 ander Hamilton when he was but a Youth at the 
 
 College 
 ■ ■ • j 
 
io tne jsjsaaer. v 
 
 College of Edinburgh, from a juft Regard he- had 
 to the Memory of Mr. Guthrie, and the Gaufe in 
 which he fuffered, was excited at the Peril of his 
 Life to take down with his own Hand Mr. Guthrie's 
 Head from the Netherbow-Port of Edinburgh, where 
 it had flood as a publick Spedtacle for about Twenty 
 feven or Twenty eight Years. The very fame 
 Perfon is ordered Thirty eight Years thereafter to 
 fucceed him in the Miniftry, and uphold his Tefti- 
 mony in the Pulpit of Stirling for the Space of 
 Twelve Years. And altho' a good many Ministers, 
 both of the Presbyterian and Epifcopal Perfwalion 
 had poflefl'ed the Manfe of Stirling fince the Death 
 of Mr. Guthrie ; yet none of them are directed to 
 difcover his Farewell Sermon in Stirling^ until the 
 fame Hand is imployed, which was honoured to take 
 down his Head, and to give it a decent and honour- 
 able Burial. 
 
 I make no doubt, but the above Remark will 
 appear whimfical and contemptible, as well as the 
 Sermon it felf, in the Eyes of a Generation of Men 
 in our Day, who are wife in their own Eyes : But 
 whatever may be the Sentiments of Men, whofe 
 Minds the God of this World hath blinded •> yet the 
 Work of the Lord is honourable and glorious, and 
 will be fought out of all them that have Pleafure 
 therein. Whofo is wife, and obferveth thefe things^ 
 even they /hall underftand the loving Kindnef of the 
 Lord. But how awful is the Certification to thoie, 
 who {hut their Eyes and Ears againft the Appear- 
 ances of God in his providential Difpenfaticns ? 
 Pfal. xxviii. 5. Becaufe they regard not the Works 
 of the Lord, nor the Operations of his Hand, he 
 fliall dejlroy them, and not build them up. 
 
 A s fome have been longing and crying for the 
 Publication of this Sermon \ fo I'm apt to \A 
 
 fome 
 
yi To the Readtr. 
 
 fome others will wifh, that it and the other Papers l 
 of the worthy Author which come along with 
 it, had been buried in Silence for ever. Neither 
 needs this appear ftrange. His Teftimony when 
 alive, tormented the Men who then dwelt upon 
 Earth to that Pegree, as to ftone this great Seer in 
 Ifrael, and afterward to imbrue their Hands in his 
 Blood : And therefore, it cannot be very eafie or 
 pleafant to thofe who are treading in the fame Steps, 
 by attempting the Burial of that Caufe and Work 
 of Reformation for which he fuffered Martyrdom, 
 to hear his Voice crying from under the Altar, or 
 his dying Teftimony again flaring them openly in 
 the Face. 
 
 I make no doubt to fay, It was the Teftimony 
 of Jefus for which this faithful Martyr Mr. James 
 Guthrie fuffered. What that Teftimony was, will 
 partly caft up from the following Papers, all of them 
 compiled by him, when drawing nigh to Eternity. 
 The Sermon was preached, Augift 19th, 1660. 
 2nd he imprifoned the Jhurfday thereafter. His 
 Paper, intituled, Confideratiom ancnt the Danger of 
 Religion, and the Work of Refcr?nation, &c. was 
 publifhed by himfclf that very fame Year. The 
 third Paper is his Speech upon the Scaffold the 
 Year following. By thefe and his other Papers 
 and Contendings, contained in Mr. IVccdroui's 
 Hiftory, he being dead, yet fpeaketh unto the liv- 
 ing. And it Will be eaiie ior the judicious and 
 Icrious Reader, to difcern who are in our Day 
 bearing up, and who are bearing down, and bury- 
 ing the Caufe for which he contended unto 
 Blood. 
 
 There is a loud Cry raifed againft a few 
 Minifters, who are aflcciated together for Pvefor- 
 e ation, as if they were Schifmaticks and Separa- 
 
 tifts, 
 
To the Reader. vit 
 
 tills, tho' they were at firft fhut out and feparate 
 from their Brethren, becaufe they could not aban- 
 don the Word of their Teftimony, emitted for the 
 Covenanted Reformation of Scotland, fealed with 
 the Blood of this and many other Worthies. But, 
 in my humble Opinion, thefe only are to be deem*d 
 Separatifts, be they few or many, who feparate from 
 the Truth, and who do not hold the Head Chrift 
 Jefus, and the Order he hath eftablifhed in his 
 Houfe. It has been made evident in a printed A61 
 and Teftimony, wherein the prefent Judicatories, 
 and the whole Land, have departed from that Truth 
 and Order. The only Thing demanded by thefe 
 Brethren in order to a harmonious Coalition, is 
 the Reformation of thefe Corruptions, and a purg- 
 ing out of thefe Scandals by which the whole 
 Lump is in hazard of being leavened. In Head 
 of a Compliance with fo juft and reafonable a De- 
 mand ; further and higher Steps of Defection are 
 every Year gone into, and Meafures laid by the 
 laft Aflembly for burying them and their Teftimony 
 both. Whither this be a holding fall Deceit, and 
 a refilling to return to the Lord, is eafie to judge. 
 And in this Cafe the Command is plain, Jer. 
 xv. 19. Let them return unto thee, but return not 
 thou unto, them. 
 
 When the Reformation of Corruptions, and 
 the purging out of evident Scandals is the only 
 Condition demanded, what can be the Reafon that 
 it is not granted r One of the two it mull needs 
 be, viz. either becaufe the Judicatories will not ; 
 or elfe becaufe they cannot reform. If it be be- 
 caufe they will not, they are to be withdrawn 
 from as Wicked. If it be becaufe they cannot, 
 or want Power, it fays, The Keys of Difcipline 
 is taken ftom them, and that they are not ChrifPs 
 
 Officers 
 
yiii To the Reader,. 
 
 Officers and Stewards. The Difcipline of Chrift's 
 Appointment muft needs be a fuificient Means 
 for the Prefervation and Reformation of his own 
 Houfe. In both thefe Cafes, the judicious Owen 
 is' of Opinion, a Church is to be feparate from. The 
 Reafon is plain, becaufe She is feparate from the Head, 
 whom we are to hold at any Rate, tho' it were to 
 the lofs of Communion with the whole World. 
 
 Vm apt to think, that the two Horns of the 
 above Dilemma, are fufficient to overthrow Mr. 
 Carrie's voluminous Eflay upon Separation. By 
 which, in the Opinion of many, be has deftroy- 
 ed thpfe Things which formerly he built up. But 
 the Fallacy and Weaknefs of his Reafonings, and 
 the Injuries he has done, both to A6ls of Aflem- 
 blies, ; and particular Authors, I hope, in a fhort 
 Time, may be fufficiently expofed. Had I been 
 favoured with a Sight of the Manufcript before Pub- 
 lication, and a few Hours Converfe with my Dear 
 and Worthy Brother, according to wonted Intimacy 
 and Freedom, without boafting, I perfwade my felf, 
 . it had never feen the Light. I value the Man, I'm 
 forry for his Conduit ; and pray for his Recovery. 
 But want of Time, as was hinted above, and fear of 
 fwelling the Pamphlet, obliges me to forbear feveral 
 other Things I inclin'd to fay. 
 
 That the fame Spirit of God, and of Glory, 
 which enabled the worthy Author of the following 
 Papers to contend unto Death, for the Royal Prero- 
 gatives of his great Mafter, the only Head, King, 
 and Law-giver of his Church, may in the perufol of 
 his following Teftimonies, enter into the Soul of every 
 Reader, is. the Prayer and Defire of him who is 
 
 Thine in the Work of theGofpel 
 Stirling, Aug. 14. of Chrift Jefus, 
 
 l J3%* Ebenezsr Erskine. 
 
( i ; 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached at STIRLING 
 
 By Mr. fames Guthrie, 
 
 On the Sabbath-Day in the Forenoon, being the 
 19. of Augu/l, 1660. Upon the 22. Verfe of 
 the 14. Chapter of Matthew. He did alfo read 
 the 23. and 24. Verfes of the fame Chapter: 
 but had not Occafion to preach any more : he 
 being imprifoned the Thurfday thereafter. 
 
 Text. * MATTH.xiv. Chap. 22, 23, 24, Verfes 
 And JlraighivJay Jefus con/trained his Difciples to 
 get into ,a Ship, and to go before him unto the other 
 fide, while he fent the Multitudes away. 
 
 23. And when he had fent the Alultitudes azvay, he 
 went up into a Mountain apart to pray ; and when 
 the Evening was come, he was there alone. 
 
 24. But the Ship was new in thkmidft of the Sea, 
 toffed with Waves : for the Wind was contrary. 
 
 T is of Purpofe, and by Choice, in reference 
 to the Condition and Trial of theie Tunes^ we 
 have refolved, through the Lord's Affiftanpa, 
 
 ro 
 
 * Mark vi. 46. John yi, and 16. Verfe. 
 
( a ) 
 to fpeak fomewhat of this * Piece of Trial, and of the 
 Storm wherewith the Difciples of our Lord Jefus Chrift 
 were exercifed at Sea, and the rather we have 
 chofen to fpeak fomewhat; of thcfe Word , becaufe 
 they were the choice of a very precious and wor- 
 thy Man, to fpeak of in a Day of Trial, I mean, 
 of that eminent Servant of God, John Knox, 
 , whom the Lord did help to he a moll eminent 
 Inftrument of the Work of Reformation in the 
 Church j we fhall not much ftand on any parti- 
 cular unfolding . of the Branches of the Text, 
 but take thefe as they ly in order. The Thing 
 wc defire you firft to look to, is, How the Story 
 tjiat is recorded, in thefe Verfes, is knit with thefe 
 that go before, for we will find then; knit toge- 
 ther by many of the Evangelifts, viz. the Story 
 of the glorious Miracles wrought by Jefus Chrift 
 the Lord, in feeeding fo many Thoufands of Peo- 
 ple with a few Loaves, and 3 few little Fifties, 
 after this that fad Trial which the Difciples met 
 with at Sea : 7'hey are knit Together by the Evan- 
 gelift Matthew, Mark, and John, after that the 
 Lord Jefus Chrift • had preached tp the People and 
 his Difciples, and had fed many Thoufands with 
 a few Loaves, and a few Fifhes, and had mani- 
 fefted much of his Power and Glory, ( He ccn~ 
 ftrains his Difciples to get into a Ship, and to go 
 before him unto the other fide, while he fent the 
 Multitude away ) he fends his Difciples to the Sea, , 
 and the Multitude away, that they fhould not for 
 a Seafon hear any more of his Doftrine, and fee any 
 more of his Miracles. 
 
 That we may lay a Foundation for fome- 
 what for your Edification. Firjl, It may be en- 
 quired, Why it is that he fends away both his Dif 
 ciples and the Multitude at that Time, and would 
 
 have 
 
 '\ he Ctaiea ol his choking of this Tex:; 
 
( 3 ; 
 
 have an Interruption of his Doclrine and Miracles* 
 when he fends his Difciples to the Sea, and the 
 Multitude to their own Home? If we look the 
 other Evangelifts, we will find the Caufes there 
 enough, Mark vi. 52. the Caufe is given there, 
 why he thus exercifed his Difciples, ( For they co?i- 
 fdered not the Miracle of the Loaves for their 
 Hearts were hardned. ) Albeit, the Lord Jeius 
 Chrift had revealed much of his Power and Glo- 
 ry in the Miracle of the Loaves; yet his Dif- 
 ciples did not duly confider thereof: Therefore 
 he would needs Exercife them with a Storm, 
 and a Tempefl at Sea, that they might both be 
 Taugfrt in the Knowledge of their own Weak- 
 nefs, and alfo might be better Schooi'd in the 
 Faith of his Power and Glory. The Reafon why 
 be fent the Multitude away, is fet down in the 
 Gofpel written by Jfibn* Chap, vi. 26. When the 
 Multitude comes again. Verily* verily* I fay unit 
 you. Ye feek me y ■ net becaufe ye faw the Miracles* 
 but becaufe ye did eat of the Loaves* and were 
 filed. Compare it with that in the 15. Verfe, 
 When J ejus Chri/i therefore perceived that they 
 iVGidd come and take him by force* to make bim a 
 King* he departed again into a Mountain himfelf 
 alone. He knew that for all that they had ktn 
 and heard of his Word and Miracles, they were 
 of a very carnal Difpoiition, and feeking to efta- 
 blifh to themfelves carnal Profperity and Peace: 
 Therefore he lent them away for a Time. ' 
 
 From the Connection of thefe two Hiftories, 
 and from the Scope of the whole, we offer you one 
 Point of Doctrine; That the Lord Jefus Qhrift 
 is oft Times, and ordinarily pleafed after 1V 
 Manifeftations of his Power and Glory in his 
 Church, and amonglt his People, to exercife them 
 with fpecial pieces of Trial, and Troubles, and 
 
 Storms. 
 
t 4- J 
 
 Storms. After bis doing of great Work for their 
 Comfort, he is ordinarily pleafed, to raife great and 
 dreadful Storms and Tempefts, for their Exercife 
 and Trial. So here, when he hath in a molt com- 
 fortable, and kindly way, banqueted them, and re- 
 vealed much of his Power and Love in fo doing, 
 he fends them a Storm and Tempfeft, on the back of 
 it, and will have an Interruption of his Dodtrine and 
 Miracles for a Time, wherein they are all like to be 
 drowned. 
 
 i/? Inftance. There are many Inftances in the Word, 
 of the Lord's dealing thus y loofc in the Books of 
 Mofes, what follows on the back of that glorious 
 Deliverance, that the Lord gave to the People of 
 Jfrael out of Egypt; they are exercifed 40 Years in 
 the Wildernefs, in which they had many a fad Day, 
 ere they enrred the Land of Canaan. 
 
 2d In/}. T h e like we may fee in the Church 
 of Ifrael, 1 Sam. The Lord gave a great Delive- 
 rance from the Philiftines by the Miniftry of his Ser- 
 vant Samuel, and a glorious blefled work of Refor- 
 mation there was, but all that was again destroyed 
 by the Hand o£Sau! 9 and Persecution railed againft 
 the Church of God. 
 
 4d In/}. A third Inftance ye will find, if ye v/ill 
 read the Hiftory of the Reign of Hezekiah and Ma~ 
 najjeb Kings of Judah, as it is recorded in the fecond 
 Bdok of Chronicles, there was a great Reforma- 
 tiorrin the Days of Hezekiah, A Covenant fworn 
 by the King, Princes, Prieils, and the whole 
 .Body of the Land; All Corruption caft out, 
 ttapure Worfhip and Ordinances of God fet up, 
 bj3*foere was a dreadful Trial by the Hand of Senna- 
 ch$rib ; fo fcarcely was Hezekiah well in his Grave, 
 xmiManajjeb fucceeds in his Room, and brings in 
 Sorrupticn and Perfecution, both at once. 
 
 &•* 
 
 jfth 
 
 i 
 
 
Is) 
 
 qtb Inft. A fourth Initance was in the Days or 
 Jofeab j how much of the Power, and Glory of 
 the Lord is manifefted ; but how fad a Trial comes 
 on the Back of it, that the Church feems to be 
 wholly defaced by the King of Babylon. 
 
 $th Inft. A fifth Initance we will find, after the 
 
 .Return of Ifrael out of Babylon y in the 4//; of 
 Ezra, the Foundation of the Lord's Houfe is laid : 
 But in a little while the Work is interrupted, ( rill 
 thefecond Year of Darius the King ) by the Deriii- 
 on and Enmity of wicked Men, 
 
 6th Inft. A like Initance you fhall alfo find in the 
 New Teftament; look what a Length our bleflcj 
 Lord brought the Work of the Gofpel, but what 
 follows in the 16. of John, 31. and 32. verfes, Do 
 ye now believe ? Behold the hour cometh, yea , is- now 
 come, that ye/hall be fcattered, every man to his own, 
 and /hall leave me alone. And he is crucified, and laid 
 in his Grave, and a Stone laid on the Grave's Mouth, 
 and little Appearance that ever there fhould have 
 been more mention of him, m the Land of the Liv- 
 ing. 
 
 jib Inft. Then look another Initance in the 
 
 - Days of the Apoftles in the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, 
 Chaprers of the Afis, what a bleilqd Reformation 
 there was, but in the Clofe of the 6th Chapter, and 
 in the Beginning of the Stb, ye fee what a fad Inter- 
 ruption and Scattering is in the Church, and a great 
 Perfecution railed againft it. 
 
 8th Inft. And as there are many Inftances in the 
 Word, fo there are many Inftances in the Story of 
 the Church, many great Things were done by the 
 Apoftles, and a glorious Reformation there was in 
 the bringing in of the Gentiles; but how dreadful a 
 Perfecution is railed through all the World 
 
 gth Inft. And there is a notable Inftance, 
 when the Lord began to reform the Church from 
 
 the 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 the Darknefs of Popery, by that worthy Inftni- 
 ment Luther : But fhortly after, did not Charles the 
 fifth raife a cruel War, againft all the Princes 
 of Germany, and raifed cruel Edidts againft all that 
 clave to the Church. 
 
 10th In ft. And alfo, in the Days of King 
 Edward the fixth, That good Prince, what a glori- 
 ous Work was in England y but few Years alter that • 
 godly Prince died, Queen Mary fucceeds, brings in 
 Popery, and raifes a bitter Periecution againft the 
 Saints of God. 
 
 nth Inft. A n d, ye cannot be fo great Strang- 
 ers to your own Condition at Home ; How fad an 
 Interruption the Work of Reformation met with, 
 from the Prelates riot long ago. 
 
 S o that there is nothing more ordinary in the 
 Church, than after the Lord has communicate him- 
 felfinafpecial way in his Power and Glory, than to 
 exercife them with fad Storms and Tempefts on the 
 Back of it. 
 
 Concerning this Difpenfation, we would 
 firft, enquire a little into the Grounds and Reifons 
 of it, why the Lord {qqs it fit to do fo ? Next, into 
 the Kinds of it, or in what feveral Ways it is, that 
 he kes it lit fo to do? 
 
 For the Reafons, Grounds and Caufes of it, we 
 ihall not fpeak of many, though many might be 
 fpoken of, but fhortly touch fome of the moil com- 
 mon and obvious. 
 
 \ji Reafcn. First, The Lord makes fuch a 
 Changing of his Dealing, with his Church, for the 
 chaftifing of their Sin, and correcting of their Iniqui- 
 ty. A People to whom he manifefts himfeif in hrs 
 Power and Glory, and Mercy and Truth, do not' 
 always behave themfelves as they . ought, to do, but 
 even while he is dealing kindly with them they do 
 many way? provoke him to Wrath. Therefore God 
 
 for 
 
f 7 ) ., 
 
 forcorrefting their Sin, and chaftinng their Iniquity j 
 brings Troubles and Storms upon them. In the 99. 
 Pfalm, the Lord is brought to take Vengeance en 
 the Inventions of his People in the Wilderness ; that 
 ye may underftand this the better, look the 78. 
 Pfalm, which is a clear Commentary to this, 
 where his Rod wherewith he punifhed that People 
 in the Wildernefs, and delayed their Entrance into 
 Canaan, and their Sin both are let down: Their 
 Unftedfeftnefs in the Lord's Covenant. Ye may 
 look fome of the Proofs of thefe Sins. 
 
 \fi Sin. First, In the 10. and 11. verfesof 
 Pfalm 78. They kept not ihe Cove?iant of God, and 
 refufed to walk in his Law : And for gat his Works, 
 and Wonders that he had hewed them. They were 
 unftedfaft in the Lord's Covenant in the 19. and 
 20. Chapter of Exodus, They entred in a moft fo- 
 lemn Covenant with God, that all of them under- 
 took to ftand to, and to prove faithful therein, but 
 they kept not his Covenant, but dealt deceitfully in 
 it, therefore he brought fuch Storms on them in 
 the Wildernefs, and fo long fufpended their Entrance 
 in the prcmifcd Land. 
 
 2d Sin. A Tecond Sin is* in the 18. verfe they 
 finned yet more, and tempted him in their Hearts, 
 by asking Meat for their Lujls. They are not iatis- 
 fied, with the things that God has allowed them, 
 but lulled after flrange things, and became luftful in 
 their Appetites : Therefore God is wroth, and thus 
 exercifeth them in the Wildernefs, 
 
 ^d Sin. A third Sin is, in the 22. verfe, their 
 diffidence and Unbelief; they believed not God, 
 and trufted not in his Salvation, they put tempting 
 Queftions, concerning his Power and Goodnefs in 
 the 19. verfe, Can Godfurnijh a Table in the Wilder- 
 nefs ? Therefore he thus e^ercifed them with 
 Storms. 
 
t i ) 
 
 4th Sin. \A fourth Sin is, They defpifed and un- 
 dervalued the precious Manna^ which God lent 
 down from Heaven, for feeding of them, Numb. 
 xxi. 5. Our Souls lot bed this light Bread. 
 
 $tb Sin. A fifth Sin is* Their murmuring, 
 grudging and repining again ft God. 
 
 6th Sin. A Sixth Sin is, Their Complaint of 
 coming out of Egypt ; their rebelling and fpeaking of 
 a Captain to return back again. 
 
 jth Sin. The laft Sin is, Their corrupting the 
 Worfhip of God, and making a golden Calf. And 
 becaufe of thefe Sins, the Lord is angry, and cor- 
 redteth and chaftifes them forty Years long in the 
 Wildernefs. 
 
 2d Reafon. A fecond Reafoh is, The Lord's 
 bringing lad Storms on the back of glorious Mani- 
 feftations of himfelf in his Word and Works, is, 
 for purging of his People. As he will correft them, 
 and have them to know the bitternefs of their Sin, 
 fo he will have them to be purged of it. There is a 
 fad Trial in the 11. of Daniel^ and this is given as 
 the Reafon of it ; To purge, to try, and to make 
 white, In the 35. Verfe, And feme of them of Vnder- 
 ftanding flmllfall^ to try them^ and to purge ^ and to 
 make tkc?nivkitt^ even to the time of the End: Be- 
 coufe it is yet for a time appointed. There is in the 
 Church and People of God, much Drofs, therefore 
 he kts it neceflary, they be put to the Fire, for purg- 
 ing away of their Drcfr. 
 
 ^d Reafon. A third Reafon, wherefore the Lord 
 
 brings fad Storms, on the Back of glorious Manifes- 
 
 ' tations, of himfelf, is, for difcovering and bringing 
 
 forth the Hypocrites, and fuch as are unfound, 
 
 .Daniel xi. 34. Many cleave to the Lord's People 
 
 by Flattery : Efpecially, it's fo, when the Lord is 
 
 eminently appeariiifc and revealing himfelf glorioufly 
 
 ' in his Word and Works s Many then undertake a 
 
 I ' Pro- 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 Profcffion in whofe Hearts there is no Sincerity and 
 Truth ; many then cleave to the Caufe and Work of 
 God by Flattery, which his Soul cannot endure; 
 therefore he brings a winnowing Fan, and lets them 
 up before the Wind, that he may know who is 
 Chaff and who is Corn. Pfal. exxv. 4. and 5. 
 verfes. He doth good to thofe that are upright in Heart : 
 but as for fuch as turn afide to creoked ways> the 
 Lordjhall lead them forth with the workers of Iniqui- 
 ty. Therefore for Difcovery of fuch, he fends 
 fad Storms on the back of Reformation. 
 
 Another Reafon of the Lord's bringing 
 fad Storms and Tempefls on his People, on the back 
 of glorious Manifeflations of himfelf, is, that he 
 may proyc and take a Trial of the Integrity, Faith* 
 and Patience of his Saints ; and in trying of them to 
 purchafe Glory to himfelf, and a Name to them. 
 1. Pet. i." and 7. That the Trial of your Faith {be- 
 ing much more precious than of Gold that perijheth^ 
 though it be tried with Fire, ) might be found untt 
 Praife, and Honour ■, and Glory at the appearing' of 
 Jefus Chrijl. 
 
 There is alfo a Reafon, concering Adverfa- 
 rics, which we fhall not now medle with. 
 
 B u t we come to the fecond Point, how it is, or 
 in what'feveral forts of ways it is, that the Lord is 
 pleafed thus to difpenfe, I mean, to fend Storms and 
 Trials on his Servants and People, immediately on 
 the back of fome glorious Appearance, and notable 
 Works of Kindnefs and Mercy amongft them. 
 There might be a great many ways named, how the 
 Lord is pleafed to do thus, we fhall name only four 
 generals. 
 
 1/?. way> First, he does it fometime by in- 
 terrupting of his Work. Thus he did it in that 
 place cited before, Ezra iv. After the Foundation 
 of the Lord's Houle is laid, a Company of nuligant 
 Men, Enemies to the poor People of God, and his 
 B Work, 
 
Work, who are exceeding ill fatisfied, that the Work 
 of 'God (hould profper, they come by all Means to 
 interrupt the Work of God, and when they could 
 not prevail by Flattery, they go to the King of Per- 
 jia, and load the People of God with falfe Afperfi- 
 ons, that they were about to rebel, &c by which 
 Suggeftions, they obtain Letters from the King, 
 commanding them to ceafe building of the Temple,' 
 and when the Copy of the King's Letters was read, ' 
 they made them to ceafe by Force and Power, 
 
 2d. Way, A fecond way is, by Corruption, when 
 he fullers evil Inftruments, not only to make an In- 
 terruption, but to make a Corruption fo to fpeak, 
 and to mingle thefe with the Purity of his Ordinan- 
 ces and Worfbip. God raifes up ill Inftruments, to 
 make People lick up the Vomit of thefe Corrupti- 
 ons, which have been formerly caft out. There 
 had been a blefled Reformation in the Days of Heze- 
 kiah, and all Corruption call out, but all that Cor- 
 ruption, is brought in again in the Days of Manaf- 
 feb, and more and worfe than ever had been be- 
 fore. 
 
 3^. Way, A third way is, by Deftruftion, fo to 
 fpeak -, Not only, when the Work of God is inter- 
 rupped, arid corrupted, but when it is deftroyed 
 and taken away. There is in the Days of Zede- 
 hah, a total deftroying of the Temple, and all the 
 Work. 
 
 T h e fourth way is, by Perfecution to thefe 
 that cleave to the Truth and Work of God ; Thus 
 it was in the Days of the Apoftles, Ads v. They 
 fall on the Minirters of the Lord's Houfe, and ilays 
 fomeofthem with the Sword, and puts others in 
 Prifon 5 Jo that they could not preach the Word in 
 JeruJaienL Seme one, or all i of thefe ways, the 
 Lord lets on Foot fuch Difpenfations. 
 
 ift Ufe. 
 
( XI ) 
 
 ift Ufe. w e would now fpeak fomewhat of the 
 Ufe we would make of it. And, Fir ft , It fays 
 this to us, that we of this Church and Nation, 
 would be looking for a Storm ; the Lord hath been 
 gracioufly pleafed to make glorious Difcoveries of his 
 ' Power and Mercy in his Word and Works amongft 
 us, now thir many Years, and even on that Ac- 
 count, we would be looking for a Storm ; and 
 | Ve fhall give you thefe few Reafons wherefore wc 
 .. -tyould look for it. 
 
 ift Reafon. Because fas I told you ) it's 
 
 ordinary with God in his Difpenfations to his People, 
 
 , to knit thefe two together, with great Manifeftations 
 
 of his Mercy, to bring Troubles, Tempefts and Trials, 
 
 ' as ye will find frequently in the Word. - 
 
 2d Reaf. A Second Reafon wherefore we would 
 look for a Storm, is, becaufe we are guilty of thefe 
 Sins, that bring on Storms on the Church, and 
 People 1 of God. We have told you what Storms 
 ! came on lfrael in the Wildernefs, after their coming 
 out of Egypt; and we have told you their Sin _ 
 that brought them on ; unftedfaftnefs in the Lord's 
 'Covenant, murmuring againft God, tempting of 
 'God, Diffidence and Unbelief; defpifing and loth*? 
 ing of the precious Manna, their rebelling againft 
 God, their corrupting of the Worfliip and Ordi- 
 nances of God, &V. See if we be not Guilty of 
 | AH thefe Sins: Have we not been unftedfaft in the 
 •-Covenant? Is not the Obligation thereof in great 
 ,s Meafure forgotten? and who has remembred to 
 [perform his Vow unto the Lord, almoft in any 
 thing, either in the National, or Solemn League 
 and Covenant? Are we not guilty of lulling, and 
 hot fatisfied with the Things that God hath given 
 us, -but the Heart is carried away with the Lull 
 of the Eyes, the Luftof the Fiefh, and the Pride 
 
 Bx of 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 of Life ? Are we not guilty of repining againft 
 God ? Are we not guilty of defpifing and loathing 
 the precious Manna of the Gofpel ? Arc we not 
 guilty of. Misbelief and Tempting of God? Are 
 we not guilty of corrupting of the Ordinances of 
 God and fpoiling many of his precious Truths? 
 Aad are there not many fpeaking of making a 
 Captain to return again to Egypt, and to involve- 
 themfelves in the Bondage of all thefe Corruptions 
 which have been formerly call out, and engaged, 
 againft in the Covenant $ and if for thefe things ^ 
 God brought Storms on them, how fhall we a- 
 void them. 
 
 Reaf. 3d. A third Thing that fays there is a 
 Storm coming, is, becaufe thefe amongft whom he* 
 doth eminently manifeft himfelf he doth alfo eminent- 
 ly try them, that he may bring forth their Faith 
 and Patience. We have had Trials, but none of< 
 us have refifted unto Blood, they have been but 
 ' frefh Water Trials : The Trials are not anfwer- 
 able to thefe eminent Difpenfations enjoyed. We 
 have but run with ill* Foot- men, and have not 
 yet contended with -tjhe Horfe-men, we have not 
 yet fvvim'd in the fwellings of Jordan, Jeremiah 
 12. s. 
 
 Rcaf. 4th. A fourth Thing that fays that there 
 is a Storm coming, is, becaufe that their is among 
 us a Huge Multitude of hollow hearted Menjoyn- 
 ed in the Covenant with treacherous Hearts, the 
 Lord hath brought forth many of thefe already, but 
 it's like their will be more vifible Difcoveiies, that 
 will make Men difown and difavDw the Covenant 
 qi God. 
 
 Reaf. 5. Another Thing that fays ye 
 would" look fur a Storm, is, becaufe that is already 
 begun: The Wind of the Lord's Fan is already 
 be^un to blow 5 feverals who were eminent in the 
 
 Work 
 
i *3 ; 
 
 Work of the Lord are imprifoned ; feveral Am- 
 bafladors of the Lord's Houie caft out -, and doth 
 not this fay that their is a Storm coming. 
 
 Reaf. 6. And Lajlly\ This fays, that ye would 
 look for a Storm, becaufe all the wicked,- and thefe 
 that have been Enemies to the People of God are 
 already lifting up the Head; and that is ay the 
 prognoftick of a Storm. 
 
 U/e 2d. The fecond Ufe is. As we would look 
 
 for a Storm fo we would not Humble at it when it 
 
 comes, becaufe it is the Work of our God, it's 
 
 ' the ordinary path Road, that the Lord ufes to -take 
 
 , or give in his Difpenfations to his Church. . There 
 
 are feveral forts of Stumblings that Folk fall in, 
 
 t when the Lord is pleafed to bring Storitis on his 
 
 . Church and People, all of them we would beware 
 
 of. 
 
 Stumbling ift. Fitjl the Stumbling of the Child- 
 of Ifrael that we read of, when Stprms were like 
 to rife, they Stumble fo far as to fpeak of quiting 
 of the Work of the Lord, and not marching 
 on further to take Pofleflion of the promifed Land : 
 And they fpeak of making a Captain to return 
 back again to Egypt : We Would fear that that (hall 
 be the Stumbling of many in thir Times, that 
 they (hall take a Refolution to quire all the Work 
 of God, and the Work of Reformation, and be con- 
 tent to be carried back again to thefe Corruptions 
 from whence they were ( by the Mercy of God ) deli- 
 vered. That is a moll dreadful Stumbling,- we 
 warn you of it, and w r e befeech you in the Name 
 of the Lord to take heed to it. 
 
 Stumble, id. A fecond Sort of Stumbling that we 
 would beware of, is, the Stumbling oiDoeg the Edo- 
 mite> 2 Sam. 22. when a Storm was like to ariife 
 upon the Church and People of God, he Stum- 
 bles fo far at thefe Things as he falls to be an 
 
 Ace Lifer 
 
i 14 ; 
 
 Accufer of thofe that had been employed in the 
 Work of God and walked in their Integrity, to 
 accufe honeft holy David; and from an Accufer 
 came to be an open Perfecuter of the People of 
 God : We would take heed, that for currying 
 of Favour to our felves, we be not Accufers of 
 bthers ; this is the way of many in thefe Nations, 
 they know no' other way of currying of Favour 
 to themfelves, but by becoming Accufers of the 
 Saints of God ; look to it, for in a while ye will 
 turn open Perfecuters; when none would fall on 
 the Priefts of the Lord, Doeg the Edsmite (ere 
 j\e loft the Favour he had gotten ) would fall on 
 them, : 
 
 - $cf Stumbl. A third Sort of Stumbling that we 
 would beware of, is, The Stumbling of Shebna y 
 Treafurer or Scribe, Ifa.22. WhznSennacherib invad- 
 ed Judah* though he pretended Friendfhip, yet he, 
 in a fecret way complyed with Sennacherib, and 
 jo far as lay in him fupplanted good King Heze- 
 $iqb % and the People of God ; we would take 
 heed of that, 
 
 ; Atb Stumbl. Another Sort of Stumbling 
 that we would beware of, is, That Stumbling, of 
 Demas, 2*fim. 4. 10. who when a Storm arifes, 
 he thought it meet to fhift for himfelf, and im- 
 brace this prefent World. Dema§ bas forfaken us r 
 ( fays Paul ) having loved this prefent world, and is 
 departed unto Theflalonica, Look we pray you 
 in this Place, to that that is molt like to • be your 
 Temptation, viz. The Luft of the Things of the 
 World,' if ye will prove ftedfaft in the Caufe that 
 3 e have owned, and therefore we wouM ftudy to 
 have our Hearts loofed from thefe Things that 
 will make you Stumble in aftormy Day, 
 
 $th Stumbl. Another fort of Stumbling that 
 we would beware of, is, The Stumbling of Barucb, 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 y^» 45' 3* when he aiad Jeremiah were like to be 
 put to Death, for the Caufe that they were en- 
 gaged unto, he fainted and was afraid, Wo is 
 me ( fays he ) for the Lord has added Grief to my 
 Sorroyj^ I fainted in my fighing, and I find no reft. 
 We would take heed that we Faint not, neither 
 be of a fearful Heart, own the Caufe of God, 
 and Intcreft of Jefus Chrift. Yea, that carnal Fear 
 carries Peter fo far as to deny his Lord and Ma- 
 iler. 
 
 6th Stumbl. W e would beware of the Stum- 
 bling of JudaS) who ( when he got not the Thing 
 he would have been at, by the following of Jefus 
 Chrift ) he refolves to betray his Mafter. Look 
 that Difappointments in following the Caufe of 
 Chrift, make you not turn treacherous unto 
 it. 
 
 And Lajlly^ W e would beware of the Stum- 
 bling of the Men of Judah^ Jer. 44. Jeremiah 
 would have had them flaying in the Land of 
 JuJah, and they would not, but would go down 
 to the Land of Egypt. And they tell him, It 
 was better with us ( fay they ) when we burnt 
 Incenfe to the §)ueen of Heaven^ and poured out 
 Drink-offerings unto her y for then had we plenty 
 of Viftualsy and were iveU, and faw no EviL 
 We would take heed that nothing make us to 
 call in Queftion the Caufe of God, that we have 
 been engaged into. 
 
 2<i Ufe. A third Ufe, If it be fo, that Tempefts 
 and Storms are' like to bl<5w, then we would be 
 careful to prepare for them. 
 
 A few Things we would name, that we would 
 look to for preparing of us. 
 
 Firjiy W e would fludy, to have our Ship as 
 light of al! unneceilary Burdens, as we can; I 
 mean, all Things of a prefent World, all Things 
 
 befide 
 
( i6 ) 
 
 befide God, and our precious Soul ; we would 
 have as little Weight of thefe Things on our Spi- 
 rits as we may, for they will fink our Ship in a 
 Storm. 
 
 " 2fy. W e would be careful to make Friend- 
 ship with Jefus Chrift that blefied Pilot, that we 
 may get him in the Ship with us, for wp are not 
 able to fleer our Ship in a Storm. 
 - 3^. W e would be careful to keep a low Sail, 
 to have our Spirits humble and low before the 
 Lord, for the humble Soul is moft like to hold out, 
 when the Wind and Storm blows. 
 
 * +ly. W e would be careful to get the Know- 
 ledge of the Caufe that we profefs ; for indeed a 
 dark Night is ill to fail in, when the Wind blows, 
 and when there are quick Sands before us, 
 
 : And La/fly, W e would be careful to have 
 out ftiip well ballafted with the Faith and Patience 
 of the Saints. . 
 
 • U/e 4.. W e would confider what grounds of 
 Confolation we {hall have for ftrengthning of our 
 Hearts, if we bide fall by the Caufe t of Jefus Chrift, 
 for the bideing' out of a Storm, if fo be God be 
 pleafed to bring it on us. 
 
 W e might name many, only at this time take 
 thefe few. The firil Ground of .-, Encouragement, 
 is, that you have a good Caufe, J mean the Caufe 
 of God, and the Intereft of Jefijs Chrift, fpeak 
 againft it who will, forfake it who will, Reproach 
 and Perfecute it who will, Doubtlefs, Good is the 
 Caufe, the Caufe is worth the contending for, 
 worth the Suffering any Thing that can come for 
 it. 
 
 2ly. Another Thing to be a Ground of 
 Comfort to us, is, as we have a good Caufe, fo 
 We have a good Captain too, Jefus Chrift tKe 
 Lord, who is the Captain and Prince of Salvation, 
 
 who 
 
( i7 ; 
 
 who was never put to the Worfe, and who fits 
 at the Right-hand of the Father, and will Reign 
 there till he make all his Enemies his Foot-ftool. 
 
 jjy. Another Thing to be a Ground of 
 Confolation to us, is, as we have a good Caufe, 
 and a good Captain, fo we have good Company 
 too, all in whofe Hearts the Fear of the Lord is 
 in thefe three Nations, yea more, we have all the 
 Saints that have lived fince the Beginning of the 
 World; for all the Caufe they have owned and 
 fuffered for, is one and the fame, though there be 
 fundry Branches of it ; we have alfo the blefled 
 Promifes of God, and we have the Experience of 
 all the Saints ; we have alfo our own Experiences, 
 and many things more of that kind. O that we 
 knew our Priviledges, for ftrengthning of our Hearts 
 to be fincere and ftedfaft in his work. And fo 
 we clofe. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
( I ) 
 
 a i«8» -J 
 
 £3^S 
 
 ■Mr. James Guthrie's /^ 
 June i. 1 66 1. 
 
 M 
 
 A 
 
 
 rf^K W 
 
 
 T!^%^W "^^ anc * Brethren, I fear many 
 ^^ Jj of you are come hither to gaze, 
 rather than to be edified by the 
 Carriage and laft Words of a 
 dying Man : But if any have 
 an Ear to hear, as I hope fome 
 of this great Confluence have, 
 I defire your Audience to a 
 few Words. I am come hither to lay down this 
 earthly Tabernacle and mortal Flefh of mine, and, 
 I blefc God, through his Grace, I do it willing- 
 ly, and not by conftraint. I fay, I fuffer willing- 
 ly : If I had been fo minded, I might have made 
 a Diverfion, and not been a Prifoner; but being 
 confcious to my lelf of nothing worthy of Death, 
 or of Bonds, I would not ftain my Innocency 
 
 with 
 
% Mr. Guthrie's lajl Speech upon the Scaffold. 
 
 with the Sufpicion of Guiltinefs, by withdrawing: 
 Neither have I wanted Opportunities and Advan- 
 tages to efcape fince I was a Prifoner, nbt by 
 the Fault of my Keepers, ( God knoweth ) but 
 otherwife; but neither for this had I Light or 
 Liberty, leaft I fhould refledl upon the Lord's 
 Name, and offend the Generation of the Righte- 
 ous : And if fome Men have not been miftaken, 
 or dealt deceitfully in telling me fo, I might have 
 avoided not only the Severity of the Sentence, 
 but alfo had much Favour and Countenance, by 
 complying with the Courfes of the Times. But 
 I durft not redeem my Life with the lofs of my 
 Integrity; God knoweth, I durft not; and that 
 lince I was a Prifoner, he hath fo holden me by 
 the Hand, that he never fuffered me to bring it 
 in debate in my inward Thoughts, much lefs to 
 propone or hearken to any Overture of that 
 kind. I did judge it better to fuffer, than to fin; 
 And therefore, I am come hither, to lay down my 
 Life this Day, and I blefs God, I die not as a 
 Fool; not that I have any thing wherein to 
 glory in my felf: I acknowledge that I am a 
 Sinner, yea, one of the greateft and vileft that 
 has owned a Profeflion ■ of Religion, and one of 
 the moft unworthy that has preached the Gofpel. 
 My Corruptions have been ftrong and many, and 
 have made me a Sinner in ail Things, yea, even 
 in following my Duty; And therefore, Righte- 
 oufnefs have I none of my own, all is vile. But 
 I do believe that J ejus ChriH ca??:e into the World 
 to fave Sinners^ whereof I am chief: Through 
 Faith in his Righteouihefs. and Blood have I ob- 
 tained Mercy ; and through him, and in him 
 alone, have I the hope of \ a blefled Conqueft and 
 
 Vidory 
 
Mr. Guthrie's lajl Speech upon the Scaffold. 3 
 
 Vi&ory over Sin and Satan, and Hell and Death, 
 and that I fhall attain unto the Refurrcdlion of 
 the juft, and be made partaker of eternal Life. 
 / know in whom I have believed, and that he is 
 able to keep that which I have committed unto him 
 againjl that Day. I have preached Salvation through 
 his Name, and as I have preached, fo do I be- 
 lieve, and do commend the Riches of his free 
 Grace and Faith in his Name unto you all, as the 
 only Way whereby ye can be faved. 
 
 A n d, as I blefs the Lord, that I die not 
 as a Fooli fo alfo, that I die not for Evil-do- 
 ing. Not a few of you may haply judge that 
 I fuffer as a Thief, or as a Murderer, or as an 
 Evil-doer, or as a Bufie-body in other Mens Mat- 
 ters. It was the Lot of the Lord Jesus 
 Christ himfelf, and hath been of many of 
 his precious Servants and People, to fuffer by the 
 World as Evil-doers; and as my Soul fcareth not 
 at it, but delirerh to rejoyce in being brought into 
 Conformity with my blefled Head, and fo blefled 
 2| Company, in this Thing ; So I defire and 
 pray, that I may be to none of you to Day upon 
 this Account a Stone of Stumbling, and a Rock 
 cf Offence. Blefled is he that {hall not be offend- 
 ed at Jesus Chist, and his poor Servants 
 and Members, becaufe of their being condemned as 
 Evil-doers by the World. God is my Record, 
 that in thefe Things for which Sentence of 
 Death hath palled againft me, I have a good Con- 
 fcience. I blefs God, they are not Matters of 
 Compliance with Sectaries, or Defigns, or Pracfifes, 
 againft His Majefty's Perfon or Government, or 
 the. Perfon and Government of his Royal ' Fa- 
 ther:. 
 
4 Mr. Guthrie's lajl Speech upm the Scaffold'. 
 
 ther : My Heart ( I blefs'G o d ) is confcious td 
 no Difloyalty, nay, Loyal I have been, and I qpm- 
 mend it to you to be Loyal, and Obedient in the 
 Lord. True Piety is the Foundation of true 
 Loyalty : A wicked Man may be a Flatterer, and. 
 a Time-ferver,* but he will never be a Loyal Sub- 
 jeft. But to return to my Purpofe; the Mat- 
 ters for which I am condemned, are Matters'be- 
 longing to my Calling and Function, as a Mini- 
 fter of the Gofpel, fuch as the Difcovery and re- 
 proving of Sin, the preffing and the holding fail 
 of the Path of God in the Covenant, and pre- 
 serving and carrying the Work of Religion, and 
 Reformation according .thereto, and denying to ac- 
 knowledge the Civil Magiftrate, as the proper com- 
 petent immediate Judge in Cauies Ecclefiaftical : 
 That in all thefe Things, ( which God fo or- 
 dering by his gracious Providence ) are the Grounds 
 of my Indictment and Death, I have a good Con- 
 science, as having walked therein according to the 
 Light and Rule of G o d's Word, and as did be- 
 come a Miniiter of the Gofpel. 
 
 I do alfo blefsthe Lord, that I do not die 
 as one not defired. I know that by not a few, 
 I neither have been, nor am defired. It hath been 
 my Lot to have been a Man of Contention and 
 Sorrow ; but it is my Comfort, that for my own 
 Things I h^ve not contended, but for the Things 
 tf Jefus Chrifly for what relateth to his Intereft 
 and Work, and the Well-being of his People. 
 In order to :he preferving and promoting of thefe," 
 I did prptefl: againft, and flood in Oppofition un- 
 to thrfe kte Aflemblies at St. Andrews^ Dundee^ 
 ahd i&wburgh, and the Publick Refolutions, for 
 
 bringing 
 
Mr. Guthrie's loft Speech upon the Scaffold. 5 
 
 bringing the Malignant Party into the Judicato- 
 ries, and Armies of this Kingdom, conceiving the 
 fame contrary to the Word of God, and to 
 our Solemn Covenant Engagements; and to be 
 an in-let to the Defection, and to the Ruin, and' 
 Deftruftion of the Work of God. And it is now 
 manifeft to many Confciences, that I have not been 
 therein miftaken, nor was not fighting againft a 
 Man of Straw : I was alfo defirous, and did ufe 
 fome poor Endeavours, to have the Church of 
 G p d purged of inefficient and fcandalous, and 
 corrupt Minifters, and Elders; for thefe Things 
 I have been miftaken by fome, and hated by others : 
 But I blefs the Lor d,' as I had the Tefti- 
 mony of my own Confcience, fo I was and arrr 
 therein approven in the Confciences of many of 
 the Lord's precious Servants and People; and 
 however fo little I may die defired by fome, yet 
 by thefe I know I do die defired, and their Ap- 
 probation and Prayers, and Affe&ion is of more 
 value with me, than the Contradiction or Re- 
 proach, or Hatred of many others ; the Love of 
 the one, I cannot Recompenfe, and the Miftake 
 or Hatred, or Reproach' of the other, I do with 
 all my Heart forgive; and wherein I have of- 
 fended any of them, I do beg their Mercy and 
 Forgivenefs. I do from my Soul wifh, that my 
 Death may be profitable unto both, that the one 
 may be confirmed and eftablifhed in the ftraight 
 Ways of the Lord; and that the other, if 
 the Lord {b will, may be convinced, and ceafe 
 from thefe Things that are not good, and do not 
 edifie but deftroy. 
 
 One Thing I would warn you all of, That 
 
 Go j? 
 
6 Mr. Guthrie's laji Speech upon the Scaffold. 
 
 God is wroth, yea, very wroth with Scotland, 
 and thrcatneth to depart and remove his Candlc- 
 ftick. The Caufes of his Wrath are many, and 
 would to God it were not one great Caufe, 
 that Caufes of Wrath are defpifed and rejected 
 of Men. Confider the Caufe that is recorded, 
 Jer. xxxvi. and the Confequence of" it, and tremble 
 and fear. I cannot but alfo fay, That there is a 
 great Addition and Increafe of Wrath ; Firfl, By 
 tl}at Deluge of Profanity that overfloweth all the 
 Lafcd, and hath Reins loofed unto it every where, 
 in To far that many have loft, not only all Ufe 
 and Exercife of Religion, but even of Morality, 
 and that common Civility that is to be found 
 amongft the Heathen. Second, By that horrible 
 Treachery and Perjury that is in the Matter of 
 the Covenant, and Caufe of God, and Work 
 of Reformation : Be ajhnifhed, O ye Heavens, at 
 this, and be ye horribly afraid, and be ye very de- 
 folate, faith the Lord-, for my People have- csm- 
 mitted two great Evils, they have forfaken me the 
 Fountain of Waters, and hewed them out Cifems y 
 broken Ci/lems, that can hold no Waters : Shall he 
 break the Covenant and profper ? Shall the Thrtne 
 cf Iniquity have Fellowjhip with God, which fram- 
 tth Mi/chief by a Law? I fear the Lord be 
 about to bring a Sword on thefe. Lands, which 
 fhall avenge the Quarrel of his Covenant. Third, 
 Horrible Ingratitude, the Lord after ten Years 
 Oppreffion, and Bondage, hath broken the Yoke 
 of Strangers from off our Necks: But what do 
 we render unto, him for this Goodnefs? Moft 
 of the Fruit of our Delivery is, to work Wicked- 
 nefs, and to flrengthen our felves to do Evil- 
 Fourth, A molt dreadful Idolatry, and facrificing 
 
 to 
 
Mr. Guthrie's lap Speech upon the Scaffold. 7 
 
 to the Creature, we have changed the Glory of the 
 incorruptible God, into the Image of corruptible Man y 
 in whom many have placed almoft all their Sal- 
 vation and Deiire, and have turned that which 
 might have been a Blefling unto us, ( being kept 
 in a due Line of Subordination under God) 
 into an Idol of Jealoufie, by preferring it before 
 him. God is alfo wroth with a Generation 
 of carnal, corrupt, Timc-ferving Minifters ; I know 
 and bear Teftimony, that in the Church of Scot- 
 land, there is a true and faithful Miniftry : Bl 
 be God, we have yet many, who ftudy ttfeir 
 Duty, and defire to be found Faithful to their 
 Lord and Matter; and I pray you to Ho- 
 nour, and Reverence, and Etteem much of thefe 
 for their Works fake; and I pray them to be 
 encouraged in their Lord and Matter, who & 
 with them, to make them as Iron Pillars and 
 Brazen Walls, and as a ftrong$,defenced City in 
 the faithful following of their Duty : But, Oh ! 
 that there were not too many, who mind earthly 
 Things, and are Enemies to the (Srofs of Jefus 
 Ghriji, who pufh with the Side and Shoulder, 
 who ftrengthen the Hands of Evil-doers, who 
 make themfelves Tranfgreflbrs, by ftudying to build 
 again what they did formerly warrantably deflroy; 
 I mean Prelacy, and the Ceremonies, and the Ser- 
 vice Book, a Myftery of Iniquity that works 
 ' amongft us, whole Steps lead unto the Houfe r 
 of the great Whore Babylon, the Mother of For- 
 nication 3 or whofoever elfe he be that buildeth 
 
 Jericho again, let Mm take heed of the Curfe 
 of Hid, the \ and of that flying Roll 
 
 :ned, Zech. v. And let all Miniffers take 
 
 that they watch, and be ftedfaft in the Faith, 
 
 C and 
 
-and qiiit themfelves like Men, and be ftrong; and 
 give faithful and feafonable Warning, concerning 
 Sin and Duty. Many of the Lor d's People 
 do fadly complain of the Fainting and Silence of 
 many Watchmen, and it concerneth them . to con- 
 fider what God calleth for at thei* Hands in 
 fuch a Day : Silence now in a Watchman,- when 
 he is fo much called to fpeak, and give his Tefti- 
 Riony, upon the Peril of his Life, is doubtlefs a 
 'great Sin. The Lord open the Mouths of his 
 Servants, to fpfeak his Word with all Boldnefs, 
 that Covenant breaking inay be difcovered and 
 reproved, and that the Kingdom of J e s u s 
 Chri st may not be fupplanted, nor the Souls 
 of his People be deftroyed without a Witnefs. 
 I have but a few Words more t© add: All that 
 are profane amongft you, t exhort them to Re- 
 pentance, for the Day- of the Lor d's Vengeance 
 haftneth, and is near; but there js yet a Door 
 of Mercy open for you, if you will not de- 
 fpife the Day of Salvation. All that are Ma- 
 ligners, and Reproachers, and Perfecutors of God- 
 , linefs, and of iuch as live godly, take heed what 
 ye do; it will be hard for you to kick agair-fl: 
 the Pricks ; you make your felves the Butt of 
 'the Lord's Fury 5 " and his flaming Indignation, 
 if you do not ceafe from, and repent of all your 
 hard Speeches and ' ungodly Deeds. All . that are 
 neutral, and indifferent, and lukewarm Profefibrs, 
 be zealous and repent, left the Lord Jpue you 
 out of his Mouth. You that lament after rhe 
 Lord, and mourn for all the Abominations 
 . are done in this City, and. in the Land, iind 
 t;.ke Pteajfure in the Stones and Duft of 'lion, caft 
 not away your Confidence, but be comforted, 
 
 and 
 
Mr. Guthrie's lap Speech upon the Scaffold. 9 
 
 -and encouraged in the 'Lord; he will yet 
 appear to your Joy : God hath not caflt away 
 his People, noi Work in Britain and Ireland, I 
 hope it {hall once more revive by the Power 
 of his Spirit, and take Root downward, and hear 
 Fruit upward, and of this I am now confident 
 There is yet a holy Seed and precious Remnant, 
 whom God will preferve, and bring, forth : 
 But how long or dark our Night, may be, I do 
 not know, the Lord fhorten it for the Jake 
 of his Chofen. In the mean while, be ye pati- 
 ent, and Jledfafl, immoveable, always abounding, in 
 \\ the Work of the LORD, and in Love one to 
 another; beware of Snares which' ..are flawed 
 thick 5 cleave to the Covenant and Work of Re- 
 formation; Do not decline the Crofs of.jES¥s 
 Christ, choofe rather to fuffcr AffliEtion with the 
 People of GO D, than to enjoy the Pleasures of 
 Sin for a Seafon, and account the Reproach cf 
 . C HR 1ST greater Riches , than all the Treafures 
 of the World. Let my Death grieve none of you, 
 ! ' it will be more profitable and advantagious both 
 • for me, and for you, and for the Church of 
 •God, and for Chris t's Inter eft, and Ho- 
 j nour, than my Life could have been. . I forgive* 
 I all Men the Guilt of it, and I defire.you to do 
 J fo alfo: Pray for them thct ^ per fc cute you, and 
 I bltfs them that curfi yoti\ Blefs, I fay, and ciirfe 
 I not. I die in the Faith of. the ApoftL-s, and 
 ' Primitive Chriftians, and Proteftant Reformed 
 1 Churches, particularly of the Church of Scotland^ 
 whereof I am a Member and Minifter; ; I do 
 j bear my Witnefs and Teftimony to the Doflrins, 
 Worfhip, Difcipline, and Government of the 
 Church of Scotland, by Kirk-Seflions, Presbyteries, 
 C 2 Synod- 
 
io Mr. Guthrie's laji Speech upon the Scaffold. 
 
 Synods and General Aflehiblies; Popery, and Pre- 
 lacy, and all the Trumpery of Service and Cere- , 
 monies, that wait upon them, I do abhorr. I 
 do bear my Witnefs unto the National Cove- 
 nant of Scotland^ and Solemn League and Cove- 
 nant betwixt the three Kingdoms of Scotland^ 
 England^ and Ireland: Thefe Sacred, Solemn, 
 Publick Oaths of G o d 5 I believe can be loofed, 
 nor difpenfed with, by no Perfon, nor Party, or 
 Power, upon Earth; but are ftill binding upon 
 thele Kingdoms, and will be for ever hereaner; 
 and are ratified, and fealed by the Converfion of 
 many Thoufand Souls, fince our entering there- 
 into. ' I bear niy Witnefs to the Proteftation a- 
 gainft. the Contra verted Aflemblies, and the Pub- 
 lick Refolutions, to the Teftimonies given againft 
 *, the* Sectaries, againfl: the Courfe of Backfliding and 
 ' Defection that is now on Foot in the Land, 
 and all the Branches and Parts thereof, under 
 v/hatfoever Name or Notion, or acled by what- 
 ibever- Party or Perfon. And in the latt Place," 
 J bear my Witnefs to the Crofs of Jesus 
 Chhis t, and that I never had Caufe, nor 
 have Caufe this Day to repent, becaufe of any 
 Thing I have fuffered, or can now fuffer for 
 his Name: I take God to Record upon my 
 Soul, I wo$d not exchange this Scaffold with 
 the Palace or Mitre of the greateft Prelate in 
 Britain. Bleficd be God, who hath fhewed 
 Mercy, to fuch a Wretch, and hath revealed 
 his Son in me, and made me a Minifter of the 
 cverlaiHng Gofpel, and that he hath deigned, in 
 the midft of nilich Contradiction, from Saran and 
 the World, to leal my Miniftry upon the Hear is 
 
 of 
 
Mr. Guthrie's lafi Speech upon the Scaffold. i r 
 
 of not a few of his People, and efpecialiy in 
 the Station wherein I was lail, I mean the Con- 
 
 I gregation, and Presbytery of Stirling; And I 
 hope the Lord will vilit that Congregation,' 
 
 ■ and Presbytery once more, with faithful Pallors. 
 God forgive the poor empty Man, that did 
 there intrude upon my Labours, and hath made 
 
 •+ a Prey -of many poor Souls, and expofed others 
 to Reproach and Oppreffion, and a Famine of 
 the Word of the Lord. God forgive the 
 Misleaders of that Part of the poor People, who 
 tempted them to reject their own Pallor, and to 
 admit of Intruders; And the Father of Mercies 
 pity that poor milled People, and the Lord 
 viiit the Congregation and Presbytery of Stirling 
 once more with faithful Pallors, and grant that 
 the Work, and People of God, may be re- 
 vived through all Britain, and over, all the 
 World. J e s'u s Christ is my Light, and 
 my Life, my Righteoufnefs, my Strength, and ray 
 Salvation, and all my Defire: Him, O him, I 
 do with all the Strength of my Soul commend 
 unto you : BleJJed are they that are net offended 
 in him; BleJJed are they that trujl in him. Blefs 
 O my Soul, from henceforth, even for ever. 
 Rejoyce, rejoyce, all ye that love him, be patient, and 
 rejoyce in Tribulation: Bleffed are you, and blejjcd 
 /hall you be for ever and ever ; everlafiing Right** 
 C 3 oujuefs 
 
12 Mr. Guthrie's hji Speech upon the Scaffold. 
 
 cufnefs and eternal Salvation i{ yours-, All are 
 vours, and ye are C HR IS t% and C HR 1ST 
 is GOD's. Remember -me, LORD, with the 
 
 Favour thou hear eft to thy People ; O vifit me with 
 thy Salvation, that I may fee the Good of thy 
 Chofen r that I may rejoyce in the Gladnefs of thy 
 Nation, that I may Glory with thine Inheritance. 
 Now, let thy Servant depart in Peace, fence mine 
 Eyes have feen thy Salvation. 
 
 i^Jt** 
 
 SOME